Thérèse the Philosopher
| Author | Anonymous, Attributed to Jean-Baptiste de Boyer, Marquis d'Argens |
|---|---|
| Original title | Thérèse Philosophe |
| Language | French |
| Genre | Fiction, Novel, Libertine Literature, Comedy |
| Publisher | Unknown (1748, The Hague, Belgium; French), Grove Press (1970, English), Black Scat Books (2020, English) |
Publication date | 1748 |
| Publication place | France |
Published in English | 1970 (Thérèse The Philosopher), 2020 (Thérèse Finds Happiness) |
| Pages | 208 (English) |
Thérèse Philosophe (Therese the Philosopher) is a 1748 French novel ascribed to Jean-Baptiste de Boyer, Marquis d'Argens, or, according to a minority opinion, Denis Diderot and others. While it does detail sexual acts (and could be considered a pornographic novel) the work illustrates clerical hypocrisy, argues against Catholic/Christian dogma and presents at least two independent female characters - all factors that could account for its significant popularity in 18th century France and Europe (despite it being banned by the Ancien Regime).